Kari Gibb/MDN Minot High junior Rylan Roteliuk (29) celebrates one of his four goals against Jamestown on Saturday, December 21, in a home win over the Blue Jays at Maysa Arena.

Sometimes in life, everything just clicks.

Such was the case for the Minot High boys hockey team in a Western Dakota Association (WDA) matchup against visiting Jamestown on Saturday, December 21, at Maysa Arena. By the end of the first period of play, the Magi held a 5-1 lead that turned into a 9-2 win for Minot High.

Minot High lit the scoreboard early in the first when Mackley Morelli found the net at the 2:01 mark on a power play goal. Easton Panauk and Teegan Strand had the assists for the 1-0 lead. Cade Erhart added to the lead with an even strength goal at the 7:25 mark. Carter Coleman and Cole Richeson had the assists for the 2-0 lead.

Rylan Roteliuk found the net next on a short handed score at the 12:47 mark for the 3-0 lead. Strand and Aidan Diehl had the assists. Jamestown found net at the 14:07 mark to build some hope in a comeback on an even strength goal.

Paxton Packulak made that comeback short-lived with his goal at the 14:57 mark. Oliver Thompson and Tate Haugenoe had the assists on the even strength goal for the 4-1 lead. Roteliuk hit his second goal of the period at the 15:56 mark with assists by Morelli and Panasuk giving the Magi the 5-1 lead.

The second period kicked into action with Morelli hitting his second goal of the game at the 8:39 mark. Diehl and Packulak had the assists on the even strength score for the 6-1 lead. Roteliuk hit his hat trick shot at the 11:08 mark on a pass from Finlee Bentz for the 7-1 lead for Minot High.

The Blue Jays found a score less than 30-seconds later on an even strength goal scored while the Magi were still celebrating their seventh goal of the game.

Morelli posted his hat trick score at the 14:28 mark on an even strength shot. Panasuk and Coen Schmeichel had the assists for the 8-2 Minot High lead.

Roteliuk found the net for his fourth time at the 15:15 mark. Bentz and Strand were awarded the assists for the 9-2 lead that ended as the final score for the Magi home win.

Each team had two penalties in the first period of play and one each in the third period of play. Minot High edged Jamestown in shots on goal 40-13 with the second period being overly lopsided with the Magi showering the net with 22 shots compared to three for the Blue Jays.

Devon Keller guarded the net for Minot High as saved 11 of the 13 shots he faced.

With the win, Minot High is now 6-0 in WDA play and 7-0 overall. Williston is second at 4-0-1-0 in WDA play and 5-0-1-0 overall while Jamestown in third at 4-2-0-1 in WDA and overall the same.

The Magi will travel to Minnesota for non-conference action after the holidays before school starts up again. Minot High will be back in WDA action on home ice when Bismarck Century makes the trip to Minot on January 7 to start the 2025 portion of the season.